Forums are message boards that allow your visitors to​ post messages on your web site and​ interact with other visitors. an​ advantage of​ forums is​ that can they can bring visitors back to​ your site time and​ time again to​ post and​ follow conversations. if​ done correctly, forums can also provide large amounts of​ content for​ search engines to​ spider. the​ down side of​ forums is​ that they can make your site look bad if​ no one is​ using them, and​ it​ can be tricky to​ get people to​ use them. Also, it​ is​ wise to​ have forums moderated so that people play nice and​ don't trash talk your own site.

Directories categorize other web sites, businesses or​ just about anything. Some directories are huge, like Yahoo!, while others may be very small and​ specific only to​ a​ small target audience. Smaller directories can often be quite useful to​ web visitors, particularly if​ the​ directory includes editor reviews, ratings and/or recommendations.

News

News sites generally have articles on current events. They are generally updated often and​ have search functions by which archives can be retrieved. an​ advantage of​ a​ news site is​ that often audiences return daily. a​ disadvantage is​ the​ need to​ constantly update the​ site.

Entertainment

Video - Video can be delivered over the​ Internet in​ a​ variety of​ ways. Some of​ the​ most popular methods are Flash, Windows Media Player, and​ Quick Time, though there are many others. Short clips are generally broadcast over the​ Internet due to​ bandwidth restrictions, yet as​ broadband penetration continues to​ increase more and​ more sites are broadcasting full-length shows and​ movies.

Music - Like video, music can be broadcast in​ a​ variety of​ forms. Many band sites are now allowing downloads of​ their songs in​ MP3 format or​ samples. This can be a​ huge promotional tool.

Games - the​ Internet has provided gamers a​ huge variety of​ options. Games can cost any where from free, to​ pay as​ you go, to​ a​ one time payment to​ subscription fees. Game sites often have loyal followings that come back time and​ time again, making the​ audience prime for​ advertising.